Lost Muscle Cars. Wes Eisenschenk

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       Adorned in Sunlit Gold, this Shelby GT350 must have been an impressive sight at the Paris Auto Show in 1967. (Pierre Monet Photo)

      Smith was well known in the automotive industry and had a long history with the Big Three auto manufacturers. Original plans included production of some 8,000 Shelbys (4,450 were actually built). They also included plans for producing fuel-injected cars and supercharged versions that unfortunately never materialized. AO Smith’s first job was to build four “pilot” cars. They would not be released to the public, but would be used for testing and evaluation. All four cars were painted Sunlit Gold with each one representing a model (GT350, GT350 convertible, GT500, and GT500 convertible). Interestingly, one of these vehicles was referenced on a piece of factory paperwork with the notation as the Paris Show Car.

      A GT350 for a GT500

      Earlier in the summer of 1967, the Ford GT40 had scored its second consecutive win at Le Mans. Ford had dethroned Ferrari in 1966 and had backed it up with another dominating performance. In Europe, Ford of France was eager to display the new 1968 Shelby Mustangs and capitalize on Shelby’s name recognition. The following telegram dated September 28, 1967, was sent by George Merwin to B. Valton of Ford Motor Parts (France):

      “GT 500 due to arrive Orly airport 1900 hours Saturday, September 30. Vehicle being sold to Ford of France. Will arrive freight collect. Copy of the invoice along with waybill number has been forwarded to A. Bordereau. Color of car is gold, new 1968 color. Copy of press packet is being forwarded. Brochures and specification sheets have not yet been printed. Regards.”

      The telegram detailed the request for a new GT500 to be displayed at the Salon de l’Automobile, the prestigious Paris Auto Show. These records also show that a GT350 was substituted as a last-minute replacement. This car was delivered to Aéroport de Paris-Orly on September 30, 1967, with the Shelby Mustang to be showcased at the 54th Paris Auto Show, which was held October 5 to 15, 1967. Those dates are important because only a handful of cars had been built prior to this period.

      Chassis 1?

      Among the scarce information on this car was an article found on a French car forum. It is dated November 1967, just a couple of weeks after the Paris Auto Show. The English translation tells you everything you need to know about a car described as “chassis 1”:

      “Arriving specially by plane, carrying the chassis number 1, this 1968 Shelby has an engine of 5 liters (302) developing 310 hp, weighing 1.325 kg (2,920 pounds), maximum speed 220 km/h (137 mph). The general features differentiate it even more from that of a Mustang; in fact, a car with prestige, that can be equipped like this one, has an automatic transmission and air conditioning (additional $639). The brakes are reinforced. It sells for ƒ46,500 [$8,485.00 in 1968] by Inter-Sport, which also announces marketing a convertible Shelby GT500. The U.S. base retail price for a GT350 fastback was $4,117.”

      It’s interesting that the car was described as “chassis 1.” The 1968 Shelby with serial number 00001 has been located and it does not appear to be the same car. According to information recently uncovered, the car serialized as number 00001 was a 4-speed car without air conditioning. That car was built after September 1967. The car that appeared in Paris may have been the first Shelby in France, but it was not chassis number 00001.

      Most likely, the Paris Auto Show car is in fact, serial number 8T02J110578-00339, which was the first 1968 GT350 hardtop built. This car meets all the physical characteristics of the Paris Auto Show car. It was also the only GT350 in Shelby’s inventory during the time. Interestingly, paperwork on this GT350 between Ford Motor Company and Ford of France indicates that this particular car was sold to the latter.

      A New Home

      As unreal as it may sound, this Shelby may have ended up in the Central African Republic (CAR). The country was going to be celebrating 10 years of independence and had ordered eight presidential limousines, and a diplomat in CAR requested a free Shelby Mustang from Inter-Sport. Interestingly, Inter-Sport handled marketing the Shelby in magazines for the 54th Salon de L’Automobile.

       Prototype Buick Stage 2 GSX

       By Wes Eisenschenk with Denny Manner

      We’ve all heard the old wives’ tales about one-of-one factory-built muscle cars. For years, people have chased these mythical machines in an effort to uncover history and possibly own the most rare of the rare. One truly is the loneliest number when dealing with factory prototypes and that’s why you rarely come across single factory-built specimens. That’s why rumors of a factory-built Buick GSX sporting the ultra-rare Stage 2 package were just that, rumors, for the longest time. That is, until Buick engineer Denny Manner set the record straight.

      During the pinnacle of the muscle car era, Denny Manner and his other Buick Engineering cohorts designed what may have become the most wicked factory production car of all time. Much like the S/S AMX, WO23 Coronet, and Hurst Hemi Dart, Buick designed a power-plant exclusively for off-road use.

      This formidable engine sported special heads with enlarged and raised exhaust ports designed for use exclusively with headers, 11:1 forged pistons with low-tension rings, an Edelbrock B4B intake adorned with an 850 Holley carburetor, and the most imposing hood scoop this side of the 1968 Hemi A-Bodies. The Buick Stage 2 engine was intended to dominate NHRA Super Stock, and only a scant few cars were ever so equipped.